Chapter 970: Panic and Reactions
Editor: Henyee Translations
While utilizing the new regulations to maximize the use of stockpiled resources, Jiang Chengxuan also implemented other strategies.
He convened a sect a.s.sembly that was attended only by elders of the Dao Mastery and above. With the exception of Xue Ping, who was in seclusion, he informed everyone present about the impending calamity.
Hearing the immortal ancestor’s warning undoubtedly brought a sense of crisis to everyone’s heart. However, as these were Dao Mastery powers who had weathered many storms, they were not consumed by fear.
Jiang Chengxuan tasked thes elders with scouring the Floodgate Realm to identify potential landing sites for the demonic immortals.
This task was systematic. According to historical records, demonic immortals typically breached the lower realm in places abundant in demonic energy, especially locations that had previously hosted demonic cultivations, requiring careful investigation.
Given the perilous nature of this task, it was entrusted only to Dao Mastery cultivators, whom Jiang Chengxuan could rely on.
Additionally, Jiang Chengxuan prepared contingency plans in various locations, ensuring that even if the calamity struck, the vast sect would not be without retreat options.
And that was all he could do.
The terrifying nature of the demonic immortals was unpredictable, and even the immortal ancestors from the upper realms could only issue warnings without providing concrete solutions because none existed.
Demonic immortals, such fearsome beings of the upper realm, were well beyond any preliminary strategies; just knowing their target was already an advantage.
Most lower realms likely faced destruction by these demonic immortals before even perceiving their shadow.
While Jiang Chengxuan was busy with preparations, other powers within the Floodgate Realm gradually began to receive similar messages from their own immortal ancestors.
The content of these messages was identical to that received by the Haoran Sect, all forecasting the great calamity and advising preparations against the invasion of demonic immortals.
Such news was enough to make any sect leader despair.
In the Pantheon Sect, both the sect master and the Daolord stood silently in their Ascension Ancestor Hall, struggling to speak.
Their situation was perhaps more dire than other sects, as their history was rife with enmities with demonic cultivators.
As the leaders of the righteous alliance, they had built their reputation on leading the charge against demonic cultivators. This stance was similar to that of the Haoran Sect, as both followed a doctrine of righteousness inherently opposed to demonic paths.
Sects like the Qiankun Hall and the Five Elements Heaven Sect, which had engaged in murky dealings, might find it easier to negotiate with demonic immortals.
Not to mention the demonic cultivation sects, who would likely welcome the descent of demonic immortals, despite them not being their ancestors.
Even though these demonic ent.i.ties would likely not protect them, the demonic cultivators would certainly relish the opportunity to a.s.sist them if it meant causing trouble.
Amidst these circ.u.mstances, a tense atmosphere slowly enveloped the entire Floodgate Realm.
Although the sect leaders tried to keep the information confidential to avoid panic, certain preparations and actions could still hint at something amiss, quickly noticed by the disciples.
And as these disciples interacted with the numerous solitary cultivators outside, conclusions were swiftly drawn.
It appeared that nearly all major sects in the Floodgate Realm were preparing for something, guarding against some threat.
Whatever it was that could provoke such unified action among the major sects of the Floodgate Realm, it was surely on the scale of, if not greater than, the previous Five Realms War.
The shadow and damage wrought by that conflict still lingered in the minds of many cultivators.
And now, with even greater turmoil looming in the darkness, they were understandably apprehensive.
Was the Floodgate Realm about to plunge into devastation once more?
For the smaller sects barely surviving, this news struck like a thunderbolt.
In response, they relentlessly leveraged connections to inquire with their superior sects about what exactly was happening.
Jiang Chengxuan was also dealing with this problem.
Within the areas under the Haoran Sect’s influence, numerous smaller sects existed, and now, all their leaders, through elder connections, sought to understand what was going on.
Even some elders of the Haoran Sect were puzzled and curious.
However, the matter was too significant; even informing them wouldn’t help, as even Jiang and his master Qin Shenwu lacked substantial solutions.
If the entire Floodgate Realm became aware of the situation, whether it would be beneficial was uncertain.
After much consideration, Jiang Chengxuan decided to keep the information under wraps, continuing to suppress it.
He told only the sect elders that all sects would be involved and that there was no way out; they would need to collaborate to survive the calamity, so there was no need for panic.
Whatever happened, they would be protected by these major sects, which was Jiang Chengxuan’s way of rea.s.suring them. Leveraging his personal charisma and the credibility of the Haoran Sect, his response managed to calm many.
“If a great calamity is indeed approaching, then the entire Floodgate Realm is inescapable,” he conveyed. Like the old saying goes, ‘When the sky falls, the tall must bear it.’
Jiang Chengxuan’s statement undoubtedly soothed many hearts, allowing numerous smaller sects to regain their composure.
However, private preparations were still essential.
Relying solely on the major sects to weather everything would be naive. These smaller sects knew that if they depended entirely on the major powers, they would be close to annihilation.
Or perhaps, their inquiries were more about seeking a stance than solutions; in a real crisis, this could exert moral pressure on the major sects to compel them to a.s.sist.
This was the calculation of the smaller sect disciples.
They had always survived by leveraging such cunning, even if it might not always be effective; they never gave up any opportunity to fight for their survival.
In the tense interim before the great calamity struck, countless sects and powers throughout the Floodgate Realm were in motion, scheming against each other.
The impending disaster and the ensuing public panic were used for various manipulations—this was human nature.
Some took advantage of the chaos to loot, others schemed and deceived, while some gathered support and ama.s.sed wealth.
Just the rumors of the approaching disaster had already triggered numerous chain reactions throughout the Floodgate Realm.
At this time, the major sects had little bandwidth to manage these behaviors, as they were each focused on their own preparations, creating an atmosphere of intense urgency within each sect.